The Booksellers Association has named Body of Stars by Laura Maylene Walter as its Fiction Book of the Month for March, and Can You Keep a Secret? by Melissa Castrillón as Children’s Book of the Month.
 
Laura Maylene Walter’s debut novel Body of Stars is set in an alternate reality where women’s bodies hold a map to the future, and follows a young woman called Celeste who realises that the changing marks on her skin reveal a devastating secret about her twin brother. Body of Stars is published by Hodder Studio on 16^th March and is available for pre-order from bookshops now.
 
Author Laura Maylene Walter commented, “Independent bookstores do so much to support books, authors, communities, and new ideas. My local bookstores are where I seek book recommendations, where I attend author readings and launch parties, and where I teach writing classes for local literary organizations. Even during the pandemic, when in-person gatherings aren’t possible, independent bookshops are working harder than ever to lift up books and authors. These stores are a vital, irreplaceable part of our culture, and I’m so excited that Body of Stars will have a place on their shelves.”

Can You Keep a Secret? is the new title from Mighty Min creator Melissa Castrillón, which tells the story of Winnie, a young girl who discovers the last dragon in the world and other endangered magical creatures deep in the forest. In order to protect her new friends, Winnie has to keep them a secret. Can You Keep a Secret? is published by Scholastic on 4^th March and is available for pre-order now.

Author Melissa Castrillón said on the book’s selection, "Independent bookshops are magical hubs in anyone's community, where you get to have your world immeasurably challenged & expanded. But they're importance also goes beyond the page, they create connections within a community with local authors/illustrators and their readers. Linking a community together through passion, creativity and new experiences"

Independent bookshops around the UK and Ireland will be promoting Body of Stars and Can You Keep a Secret? throughout March on social media. The Booksellers Association will be supporting the promotion of the Indie Books of the Month through social media and promotional material.
 
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